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Have a great weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? Since the weather is so breezy and refreshing, we're hoping to have a picnic with friends. (Maybe we'll bring shrimp!) We've also been playing this game lately, which Toby finds hilarious. Hope you have a good one, and here are a few fun links from around the web...

my family had the kid version of that schwinn. my little brother and i would ride it (me on the seat, him on the rear fender) up to the corner store and buy licorice and garbage pail kid cards from the change scrounged from the couch cushions. i wish my parents had never gotten rid of it. so many fond memories in one picture.

Thank you for a great roundup. The British/American piece cracked me up (repeatedly!), the piece on marriage was lovely lovely, and the Atlantic article nails a tough issue. Also, it's a little thing, but there's such an art to the wry link headers - you do such a great job of putting it all together!

Thank you so much for that link to the marriage post--it is a truly inspired piece. I've only been married for one year--and very happily at that--but I cannot begin to testify to how truly her piece rings. THIS is what marriage is built on. I just wish that more people in the world understood that! Brought tears to my eyes!

My first time posting after lurking for a while. You have a beautiful blog. The photo of the bike reminds me that I need to get in some exercise this weekend. No biking but I will try to get a couple of miles around the track.—Sandra

The post about marriage has left me in awe. It is an absolutely beautiful depiction of what it looks like to stick it out, while enjoying all the moments that seem dull or uninspiring. Turning those moments into something more, while getting a new pair of eyes ... I love it.

The self-esteem cult is a huge issue I think. I took a cultural psychology class comparing Eastern and Western cultures- a main difference being that Western cultures are so focussed on raising kids' self-esteem, when many Eastern cultures don't even have a direct translation for the concept. One of the studies was particularly enlightening: a group of teenagers from America, and another group from Japan were asked to rate themselves on different tasks (for ex. driving, drawing, listening, etc.) While the group from Japan had proportional, realistic answers, each participant from America almost always rated themselves as above average- this is not how averages work.. Interestingly, when you placed the Americans in front of a mirror, their answers became more realistic, whereas the Japanese answers did not change. Much of the studies in the course correlated findings like this with instances of depression and 'self-esteem' issues in Western cultures. Here we tend to tell our children they can do anything, they are good at most things and, in turn, that they are somehow more 'special' and important. When reality tells them differently- and society treats them differently- they are disappointed. What's so bad about allowing our children to know that they are not better or deserve more than others? It would just make them more humble, caring people..no?

Great collection of links! I loved that article about arriving in NYC after 18 years in London -- UK-American differences never fail to amuse and intrigue me, partly because I'm about to move to the UK. And on a separate note, what a cute bike photo -- makes me want to dig out my old pink and chrome banana seat from the garage!

When I married my husband I was already pregnant and so I didn't have a job. He had a really good job though so I was able to stay home and take care of our son when it was born. When we had our second child we moved to a bigger house, but then strange things started to happen. Things would fly off the walls and doors would slam at night. Our oldest son talked about seeing figures and hearing voices. We consulted a medium and they said the house was haunted. After living there about a year more with only minor occurrences we moved out. That was when the bad luck started to happen. Everything started to fail, with my husband's job, our money and our luck in general. I went back to the same medium and they told me that a spirit had followed me and placed a curse upon me for disturbing it and not being respectful in the previous house. He tried to remove it but was unable. The misfortune kept going on and getting more severe as I tried to search out someone to break the curse. But when I found Dr.Azonto spell he finally did it. Things started turning around almost immediately after he cast the spell and have been great from there! This was really a miracle for us, thank you . azontotemple@yahoo.com spell from the bottom of my heart!Posted by. miss Sandra Chali

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I love the article on marriage. My husband and I just hit the 7 yr mark. What the author said was true - you have to really invest in and work on your marriage to make it work and keep it healthy. Great advice.

Oh, and please post something about fashion on a budget sometime. I love the clothes/accessories you share, but I could never, ever pay $195 for a pair of shoes!

These connections are extraordinary I laughed uncontrollably at the Onion piece on mothering jobs in the midst of some recreation. Sigh. So correct. Likewise? I am requesting light black pants for the fall too, just I am happy to find this post. For more visit-http://www.fieryescorts.co.uk/.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek or Annapurna base camp trek Annapurna Base Camp is one of the best treks of Nepal as it is the combination of splendid natural scenery with the blend of cultures. The major attractions of this place are the Annapurna Himal including Himchuli, Annapurna South, Annapurna, Annapurna II, Annapurna III and Machhapuchhre and many more.The terraced farmland above Pokhara and the pastures, the deep forests of oak, bamboo and rhododendron provides an alluring sensation. The view of Dhaulagiri and Kali Gandaki is even more appealing. The visit to the inner sanctuary of Annapurna gives you the panoramic views of ten peaks over 6000m. The Natural hot spring at Jhinudanda is quite relaxing.The ABC is suitable for any trekker who has enough stamina to walk few hours a day. Previous trekking experience is not necessary and one does not need to be super fit. Daily exercise prior to the trip is strongly recommended. February to June and September to December is the favorable time to enjoy this trek.

Everest base camp trekking &Everest base camp trek&kala PattharEverest region is popular all over the world for mountaineering, peak climbing, trekking and expedition. Everest trekking is the adventurous place where you can find numerous trekking options in this region of a life time experiences to Everest Base Camp, Kalapatthar, Gokyo-Ri Trek, Gokyo Cho- La Pass Trek, Everest Panorama, and in the Everest view points to capture the stunning views of the Everest.The main destination of many Everest adventure is to reach Everest Base Camp of about 5430m. You can find Everest icefalls, glaciers, many other eye catching mountains parallel to your walk in the base camp hiking but it’s the great Kala Patthar at the height of 5545m from where you highly enjoy the majestic views of Mt. Everest from a few minutes ascends.During ascend on the high altitude mountains; be aware of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) which is caused due to too quickly climbing to a high elevation. The symptoms like headache, vomiting and loss of appetite are common and must be immediately informed to the guide so that he could provide you some first aid treatment and provide you the further medical facilities.

Cost Include :• All airport/hotel transfers• Welcome and farewell dinner• All accommodation and meals during the trek• Domestic flights and airport departure taxes• An experienced English-speaking trek leader (trekking guide), assistant trek leader (4 trekkers: 1 assistant guide) and Sherpa porters to carry luggage (2 trekkers:1 porter) including their salary, insurance, equipment, flight, food and lodging• Down jacket, four seasonal sleeping bag and trekking map (down jacket and sleeping bag are to be returned after trip completion)• A comprehensive medical kit• All necessary paper work and permits (National park permit, TIMS )Cost Exclude:• Nepal Visa fee (bring accurate USD cash and two passport photographs)• International airfare to and from Kathmandu• Excess baggage charges• Extra night accommodation/s in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, early return from the mountain(due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu(and also in the case you return early from the mountain than the scheduled itinerary)• Travel and rescue insurance• Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower etc)• Tips for guides and portershttp://www.nepalguideinfo.com/Everest-Base-Camp.phphttp://www.hikehimalayas.com/trekking-in-nepal/trekking-region/everest-region/everest-base-camp.htmhttp://www.nepalguideinfo.comEmail-:sanjib-adhikari@hotmail.comhttps://www.facebook.com/sanjib.adhikari